Paging and Segmentation MCQs

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1. : What is the primary difference between paging and segmentation?
(A) Paging divides memory into fixed-size blocks, while segmentation divides memory into variable-sized blocks
(B) Segmentation divides memory into fixed-size blocks, while paging divides memory into variable-sized blocks
(C) Paging uses variable-sized blocks, while segmentation uses fixed-size blocks
(D) Paging and segmentation are essentially the same

2. : In a paging system, what is a “page”?
(A) A fixed-size block of virtual memory
(B) A variable-sized block of memory
(C) A segment of a program’s code
(D) A portion of disk storage

3. : What is the term for the mapping of virtual memory addresses to physical memory addresses in a paging system?
(A) Address translation
(B) Paging
(C) Segmentation
(D) Swapping

4. : Which of the following is a key advantage of paging over segmentation?
(A) Simplified memory management with fixed-size blocks
(B) Reduced internal fragmentation
(C) Variable-sized memory allocation
(D) Better handling of large data structures

5. : In segmentation, what does a “segment” refer to?
(A) A variable-sized block of memory representing a logical unit of the program
(B) A fixed-size block of physical memory
(C) A portion of the disk storage
(D) A section of the page table

6. : Which memory management technique allows for the logical division of a program into segments such as code, data, and stack?
(A) Segmentation
(B) Paging
(C) Buffering
(D) Swapping

7. : What does the term “internal fragmentation” refer to in paging systems?
(A) Wasted space within allocated pages due to fixed-size blocks
(B) Wasted space between pages
(C) Memory that is inaccessible
(D) Overlap of physical memory pages

8. : What is “external fragmentation” in the context of segmentation?
(A) Free memory blocks scattered throughout physical memory
(B) Wasted space within allocated segments
(C) Memory that is not allocated to any segment
(D) Fragmentation of disk storage

9. : How does a page table function in a paging system?
(A) It maps virtual addresses to physical memory addresses
(B) It stores segment information
(C) It handles disk I/O operations
(D) It manages CPU registers

10. : What is a “segment table” used for in segmentation?
(A) To map segment numbers to segment base addresses and limits
(B) To handle page faults
(C) To increase the size of physical memory
(D) To manage CPU caches

11. : In paging systems, what does the term “page fault” refer to?
(A) An event where a program accesses a page not currently in physical memory
(B) An error in the page table
(C) A hardware failure
(D) An interruption in the CPU’s processing

12. : Which of the following best describes “paging” in memory management?
(A) Dividing memory into fixed-size blocks and managing these blocks
(B) Dividing memory into variable-sized blocks and managing these blocks
(C) Managing memory by segments of code, data, and stack
(D) Using a single contiguous memory space for all processes

13. : What is the purpose of “segmentation” in memory management?
(A) To divide memory into variable-sized logical units based on program structure
(B) To divide memory into fixed-size blocks
(C) To increase the page size
(D) To reduce the number of page faults

14. : Which of the following is a disadvantage of paging compared to segmentation?
(A) Increased internal fragmentation due to fixed-size pages
(B) Increased external fragmentation
(C) More complex memory management
(D) Less efficient use of physical memory

15. : What does “address translation” refer to in a paging system?
(A) The process of converting virtual addresses into physical addresses using a page table
(B) The process of dividing memory into segments
(C) The process of swapping pages between memory and disk
(D) The process of managing CPU operations

16. : How is a “page frame” defined in a paging system?
(A) A fixed-size block of physical memory
(B) A fixed-size block of virtual memory
(C) A variable-sized block of physical memory
(D) A segment of disk storage

17. : In a segmentation system, how are segments typically managed?
(A) Each segment has a base address and a limit
(B) Each segment is divided into fixed-size pages
(C) Each segment is managed by a page table
(D) Each segment is stored on disk

18. : Which memory management technique uses a “page directory” to manage virtual addresses?
(A) Paging
(B) Segmentation
(C) Swapping
(D) Caching

19. : What is “dynamic linking” in the context of segmentation?
(A) The ability to link different segments of a program at runtime
(B) The process of swapping pages in and out of physical memory
(C) The method of translating virtual addresses to physical addresses
(D) The allocation of fixed-size pages

20. : What is the main advantage of segmentation over paging in terms of memory management?
(A) Segmentation allows for variable-sized blocks and better logical organization
(B) Segmentation reduces internal fragmentation
(C) Segmentation simplifies address translation
(D) Segmentation improves page fault handling

21. : What is a common method for managing page faults in a paging system?
(A) Loading the required page from disk into physical memory
(B) Ignoring the fault and continuing execution
(C) Increasing the page size
(D) Reducing the number of processes

22. : In which scenario is segmentation particularly useful?
(A) When logical divisions of a program such as code, data, and stack are needed
(B) When fixed-size memory blocks are preferred
(C) When managing a large number of pages
(D) When handling page faults efficiently

23. : What is the main disadvantage of segmentation compared to paging?
(A) Increased external fragmentation
(B) Increased internal fragmentation
(C) More complex page replacement algorithms
(D) Higher page fault rates

24. : Which technique helps to reduce internal fragmentation in a paging system?
(A) Using a larger page size
(B) Reducing the number of segments
(C) Implementing variable-sized segments
(D) Increasing the size of physical memory

25. : How does a “segmentation fault” differ from a “page fault”?
(A) A segmentation fault occurs due to illegal access to a segment, while a page fault occurs due to missing pages in physical memory
(B) A page fault occurs due to illegal access to a segment, while a segmentation fault occurs due to missing pages
(C) Both terms are used interchangeably
(D) A segmentation fault is related to disk storage, while a page fault is related to physical memory

26. : What does “segment register” refer to in a segmentation system?
(A) A register that holds the base address of a segment
(B) A register that stores page table entries
(C) A register used for disk I/O operations
(D) A register that manages physical memory allocation

27. : Which memory management technique is best suited for managing large data structures efficiently?
(A) Segmentation
(B) Paging
(C) Swapping
(D) Buffering

28. : What is the impact of “internal fragmentation” on system performance in paging systems?
(A) It wastes memory within allocated pages, leading to inefficient memory usage
(B) It causes memory access errors
(C) It results in increased disk I/O
(D) It reduces the size of the page table

29. : In a paging system, what is a “page table entry” used for?
(A) To store the mapping between virtual page numbers and physical page frames
(B) To manage segment limits
(C) To handle page faults
(D) To allocate disk space

30. : What is a “logical address” in a segmentation system?
(A) An address generated by the CPU used in the context of a segment
(B) An address that corresponds to physical memory
(C) An address used for disk storage
(D) An address within the page table

31. : Which of the following statements best describes the concept of “segmentation fault”?
(A) An error that occurs when a program accesses an invalid segment
(B) An error that occurs when a page is not found in physical memory
(C) A hardware malfunction
(D) An error related to CPU cache

32. : What does “page replacement” refer to in a paging system?
(A) The process of replacing an old page in physical memory with a new page
(B) The process of dividing memory into pages
(C) The process of swapping segments between memory and disk
(D) The process of allocating memory to new processes

33. : How does “paging” handle the issue of memory fragmentation?
(A) By dividing memory into fixed-size pages to minimize fragmentation
(B) By allocating variable-sized segments
(C) By increasing physical memory size
(D) By using a larger page table

34. : What is the purpose of a “segment limit” in segmentation systems?
(A) To define the maximum size of a segment and prevent access beyond this limit
(B) To manage the size of pages
(C) To handle disk storage allocation
(D) To increase the size of the page table

35. : What does the term “paging” typically refer to in operating systems?
(A) Dividing memory into equal-sized blocks and managing them
(B) Allocating memory in variable-sized blocks
(C) Increasing the size of segments
(D) Managing disk I/O operations

36. : What is the effect of a “page fault” on system performance?
(A) It can slow down system performance as the required page is loaded from disk into physical memory
(B) It increases the size of physical memory
(C) It speeds up address translation
(D) It reduces the number of processes

37. : Which memory management technique is generally more complex to implement: paging or segmentation?
(A) Segmentation, due to variable-sized segments and additional management overhead
(B) Paging, due to fixed-size pages and simpler management
(C) Both are equally complex
(D) Neither is complex to implement

38. : What is the role of “page directory” in a paging system?
(A) To map virtual addresses to page tables
(B) To manage segment limits
(C) To handle page faults
(D) To increase physical memory size

39. : Which memory management technique is preferred for systems where logical divisions of a program are more important than fixed-size memory blocks?
(A) Segmentation
(B) Paging
(C) Swapping
(D) Buffering

40. : What is the primary advantage of segmentation over paging in terms of program structure?
(A) It supports logical divisions such as code, data, and stack, which are more aligned with program structure
(B) It reduces the number of page faults
(C) It simplifies address translation
(D) It eliminates internal fragmentation

Paging and Segmentation MCQs
By: Prof. Dr. Fazal Rehman | Last updated: June 23, 2025

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